Pet Transport from Australia to the UAE: Import Permits, Emirates Flights and What to Expect

Planning a pet relocation from Australia to United Arab Emirates is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. Allow around 6-8 weeks and follow the steps in order to stay on track. Pets …

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6-8

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

None

Quarantine on arrival

Moderate

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Lead time needed

6-8 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Moderate

Airlines

4 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Australia to United Arab Emirates typically takes around 6-8 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.

Regulations checked June 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The Australia to United Arab Emirates import process

First action, before any vaccinations.

Implant ISO 11784/11785 microchip (if not already done)

Responsible: Your vet in Australia

After microchip. If first vaccination, allow 21 days before travel. Boosters within validity: no additional wait.

Administer or confirm current rabies vaccination

Responsible: Your vet in Australia

4-6 weeks before travel. Dubai: via Dubai Municipality. Abu Dhabi: via ADAFSA. Allow 1-2 weeks for processing.

Apply for UAE import permit from the receiving emirate

Responsible: Owner or specialist pet transport agent

4-6 weeks before travel. Confirm breed eligibility and Gulf summer temperature embargo status.

Book cargo space with Emirates or chosen airline

Responsible: Owner or agent

Within 10 days of departure from Australia

Accredited Australian vet issues UAE-format health certificate; DAFF endorsement if required by receiving emirate

Responsible: Australian accredited vet plus DAFF endorsement if needed

3-4 hours before scheduled departure for cargo

Deliver pet and all documents to airline cargo desk on departure day

Responsible: Owner

On arrival at DXB or AUH

UAE border inspection on arrival; microchip scan and documentation review

Responsible: UAE authorities plus owner

Requirements

United Arab Emirates entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip required. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination is administered for the vaccination record to be valid. Source: MOCCAE, moccae.gov.ae.

Rabies vaccination

Current rabies vaccination required. Must be administered after microchip implant. First vaccination carries a 21-day pre-travel wait; boosters within validity have no additional wait. Must be valid at time of entry into UAE.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine for compliant pets arriving from Australia. Penalty quarantine applies if documentation is incomplete or non-compliant on arrival.

Import permit

Required from the receiving emirate's municipality before travel. Dubai: Dubai Municipality (dm.gov.ae). Abu Dhabi: ADAFSA (adafsa.gov.ae). Allow 1-2 weeks for processing. Permit must travel with your pet.

Health certificate

Official health certificate from an accredited Australian vet in UAE-required format, endorsed by DAFF if required by the receiving emirate. Certificate must confirm microchip number, current rabies vaccination, freedom from clinical signs of infectious disease, and fitness to travel. Source: MOCCAE, moccae.gov.ae.

Leaving Australia

Export requirements

Export permit

No export permit required from Australia for personal pet exports to the UAE. Official health certificate from an accredited Australian vet is the required departure documentation.

Health certificate

Official health certificate from an accredited Australian vet, issued in the format required by UAE authorities and endorsed by DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) if required by the destination emirate. Must be issued within 10 days of departure from Australia. Source: DAFF, agriculture.gov.au.

Costs

What this route typically costs

Microchip implant (if not yet done): approx. AUD 80-150 at an Australian vet

Rabies vaccination or booster: approx. AUD 80-150 at an Australian vet

UAE import permit fee: varies by emirate, typically AED 100-300

Health certificate from accredited Australian vet and any DAFF endorsement: approx. AUD 200-400

Airline cargo fees (Sydney or Melbourne to Dubai): approx. AUD 1,200-3,500 depending on pet size, crate, and carrier

IATA-compliant travel crate: AUD 100-400 depending on size

Specialist agent fee if used: AUD 600-1,500

Critical points

Australia is an approved country for UAE pet imports, so no titre test is required. However, the import permit from the relevant emirate municipality is mandatory and must be in hand before travel.

Temperature embargoes during Gulf summer months (June to September) affect Emirates, Etihad, and other carriers. Ground temperatures at DXB and AUH regularly exceed safe thresholds for live animal cargo. Avoid peak summer travel where possible.

Several dog breeds are restricted or prohibited across UAE emirates regardless of origin. Confirm your breed is admissible with the receiving emirate municipality before making any bookings.

The health certificate must be in UAE-prescribed format, not simply an Australian domestic vet certificate. Confirm your vet knows the UAE format requirements before the appointment.

Australia requires no export permit for personal pet exports, but confirm that your accredited Australian vet's certificate meets UAE import authority standards. Some emirates require DAFF endorsement; check with the municipality of your destination emirate.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Emirates	Direct service from Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL) to Dubai (DXB). Most popular and most direct option for this route. All pets travel as manifested cargo via Emirates SkyCargo; no cabin option. Brachycephalic breeds accepted with additional requirements and seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes apply during Gulf summer months (June to September).	Cargo Only
Etihad Airways	Direct service from Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL) to Abu Dhabi (AUH). Pets travel as manifested cargo. Brachycephalic breeds subject to seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes during Abu Dhabi summer months.	Cargo Only
Qantas	Operates some Australia-Dubai services, including codeshare arrangements with Emirates. Pets as manifested cargo via Qantas Freight. Brachycephalic breeds restricted year-round. Confirm current routing and booking process with Qantas Freight.	Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines Cargo	Indirect routing via Singapore (SIN) to Dubai (DXB) or Abu Dhabi (AUH). Longer total transit time but an option when direct capacity is unavailable. Seasonal restrictions at SIN. Advance documentation review required.	Cargo Only

How United Arab Emirates handles incoming pets

United Arab Emirates has a clear set of import requirements that are manageable with some planning. Follow them in order and keep an eye on the dates that cannot move.

What experienced owners do

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No. Australia is an approved origin country for UAE pet imports, so no rabies titre test is required. You need a current rabies vaccination, a microchip implanted before that vaccination, an import permit from the relevant emirate, and an official health certificate in UAE-required format. The process is typically completed in six to eight weeks.

The permit is issued by the municipality of the emirate where your pet will live. For Dubai, apply through Dubai Municipality (dm.gov.ae). For Abu Dhabi, apply through ADAFSA (adafsa.gov.ae). Other emirates have their own authorities. Apply four to six weeks before travel, allow one to two weeks for processing, and keep the original permit to present with your pet.

Possibly, if you are travelling between June and September. Ground temperatures at Dubai (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) airports regularly exceed the thresholds at which Emirates, Etihad, and other carriers are permitted to carry live animals in cargo holds. Embargoes are common during these months. If your move must happen in Gulf summer, try to book early morning or late evening flights when temperatures are lower, and confirm embargo status with your airline and agent before finalising dates.

No. Emirates and Etihad do not permit pets in the cabin on their Australia-UAE routes. All pets travel as manifested cargo. If you have a very small pet and a strong preference for in-cabin transport, some indirect routings via European carriers (such as Lufthansa connecting through Frankfurt) offer cabin options on portions of the journey, but these add significantly to travel time and complexity.

An official health certificate from an accredited Australian vet, issued in UAE-required format and within 10 days of departure from Australia. The certificate must include your pet’s microchip number, full vaccination details, the issuing vet’s credentials, and a clinical examination confirming freedom from signs of infectious disease and fitness to travel. Some emirates also require DAFF endorsement; confirm this with the receiving emirate’s municipality when you apply for the import permit.

Airline guides

Emirates
Etihad Airways
Qantas
Singapore Airlines Cargo

Breed restrictions

Pit Bull Terrier and related types (restricted)
American Staffordshire Terrier (restricted)
Rottweiler (restricted in some emirates)
Dogo Argentino (restricted)
Fila Brasileiro (restricted)
Japanese Tosa (restricted)
Perro de Presa Canario (restricted)

All breed guides →

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